Submersible motor-pump unit



July 3, 1962 c. A. BOYD SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR-PUMP UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9. 1959 CLINTON A. BOYD j! Il f `Iuly 3, 1962 C, A, BOYD 3,041,977

SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR-PUMP UNIT Filed Feb. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

2| III I Il IWI INVENTOR.

CLINTON A. BOYD BZW M Attorneys United YStates Patent Y 3,041,977 v SUBMERSIBLE MTOR-PUMP UNIT Clinton A. Boyd, Delavau, Wis., assignor to Sta-Rite Products, Inc., Delavan, Wis., a corporation of Wiscousin Filed Feb. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 791,929 7 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 87) This invention relates to a submersible motor-pump unit.

Submersible pumps are frequently used for pumping a liquid from a well or a storage tank. In this type of a unit, both the motor and the pump are submerged in the liquid and pump the liquid through a discha-rge pipe to the ground or upper level.

The present invention is directed to an improved submersible motor-pump unit which facilitates assembly and production. According to the invention, the pump housing is welded to the lower end of the outer casing of the unit, and a pre-assembled motor assembly is disposed within the outer casing with the lower bearing housing of the assembly resting on the upper end of the pump housing. The motor assembly is secured within the casing by means of a clamping head which is disposed above the assembly and is connected to the casing by a bayonettype of connection. By threading bolts through the clamping head and against the upper bearing housing of the motor assembly, the assembly is forced downwardly against the pump housing to hold the elements firmly within the outer casing. With this type of connection, the motor assembly is pre-assembled and referenced with respect to the outer casing so that there is no buildupL of tolerances in assembling the motor-pump unit.

As there is no necessity for threading the individual bearing housings to the outer casing, the outer casing can be fabricated of substantially thinner or lighter material for a given outside diameter for the casing. This permits a greater annular clearance immediately within the casing for liquid flow through the pump and thereby tends to increase the capacity of the pump.

The present submersible motor-pump unit also has an additional novel feature relating to the electrical connection to the motor, according to the invention, a pipe adapter is removably secured to the clamping head and carries both an electrical lead conduit and a liquid discharge pipe in a coaxial relation to each other. Electrical lead wires extend from a source of power on the ground surface through the electrical conduit and are connected to a plug connector which is attached to the lower end of the adapter. The connector is adapted to be engaged with a second plug connector secured to the upper bearing housing and connected to electrical leads extending to the motor.V

With this construction, the entire motor-pump unit can be readily removed from the liquid discharge pipe and electrical conduit by merely disengaging thevconnection between the pipe adapter and-the clamping head. This feature greatly increases the serviceability of the motor and increases the speed of replacement, for there is no necessity to interfere or disconnect either the electrical leads leading to the power Source or the liquid discharge P1136 Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description. y

The drawings illustrate the bestmode presently contemplated of carrying out the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of the submersible motor-pump unit of the invention with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section showing the clamping head and the attachment of the electrical leads;

3,841,977 Patented July 3, 1962 ICC FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along line-3 3 o FIG. 1; l

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 1 with the adapter and cup member removed;

FIG. 5 `is a transverse section taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 1 with the adapter removed;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 1 and showing the clamping head with the adapter removed; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded side elevation of the male and female plugs with parts broken away.

The drawings illustrate a submersible motor-pump unit which includes an outer generally cylindrical casing 1, a pump unit 2 connected to the lower end of the casing and a pre-assembled motor unit 3 which is freely disposed within the casing 1 and is connected to the pump unit 2 to drive the same.

The pump 2 includes a generally cylindrical housing 4, and the outer casing 1 overlaps ,the upper end of the housing 4 and is welded thereto to provide an integral structure. The pump also includes a plurality of impellers 5 which are disposed within housing 4 and are secured to the rotor shaft 6 of motor unit 3. The lower end of the pump housing 4 receives a ring 7 having a r central opening to permit the liquid to enter the pump.

The motor unit 3 includes a stator 8 and a rotor 9 which is secured to rotor shaft 6. The stator 8 and rotor 9 are enclosed within a cylindrical shell 10 which is spaced inwardly of the casing 1. The rotor shaft 6 is journaled within a pair of bearing assemblies 11 land 12 which are supported by lower bearing housing 13- and upperrbearing housing 14, respectively. The bearing housings 13 and 14 are disposed within the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the shell 10.

v 'Ihe pumped liquid, being discharged from the impellers 5, ilows upwardly through openings 15 formed in Vlower bearing housing 13` and then through the annular clearance between the outer casing 1 and the motor shell 10.

The upper bearing housing 14 is generally bone-shaped having enlarged end portions and a smaller diameter waist portion. The lower end of housing 14 is spaced radially inward from the outer casing 1 by a series of circumferentially spaced projections 16 which extend r-adially outward of the periphery of the bearing housing 14 and contact the inner surface of the casing. The projections 16 lserve to maintain axial alignment of the preassembled motor unit 3 andV housings 13` and 14 within the casing.

As the motor unit 3 and the bearing housings 13y and 14 Iare adapted to be filled with a lubricant, s-uch 'as oil, a diaphragm 17 is secured to the waist portion of the upper bearing housing 14 and serves to equalize the pressure between the oil contained within the motor unit and the bearing housings and the pumped liquid flowing upwardly around the motor unit and bearing housings.

The upper bearing housing 14 is provided with a generally hollow interior 18 and a plurality of electrical lead wires 19 pass through the lhollow interior of the upper bearing housing 14 and are connected toi the stator 8.

The lower bearing housing 13, motor unit 3 and upper bearing housing 14 are pre-assenrbled and introduced as an integral structure Within the outer casing 1. As can *be `seen from the drawings, there is no lattachment between the bearing housings or the motor unit Iand the outer casing so that these members may be freely slipped in and removed from the outer casing.

The llead wires 19, which pass through housing 14, are connected to a rubber or electrically insulating male plug 2G which is disposed within the upper end of the hollow interior 18 of the bearing housing. The plug 20 is pro- Y vided with ,an outwardly extending circumferential flange 21 which is disposed within a recess 22 formed in the upper end of the bearing housing 14. The engagement of the ilange 21 with the recess 22 serves as a seal and prevents any oil. or other liquid contained within the motor unit and upper bearing housing from passing upwardly along the plug 20.

A cup-shaped member 23 is secured to the upper end of the upper bearing housing 14 by a plurality of screws 24. The cup-shaped member 23 has a central opening in alignment with the hollow interior 18 of the bearing housing and the upper end of the plug 20 extends through the central opening of the cup member 23.

The cup member 23 is also provided with an upstanding flange 25 and a peripheral rim 26. The screws 24, which connect the cup member 23 to the bearing housing 14, pass through suitable openings in the peripheral rim 26.

To till the motor unit 3 with oil or other lubricant, an opening 27 is provided in the peripheral edge portion of the upper bearing housing 14 and communicates with the space enclosed by diaphragm 17. This opening is normally closed oif by a screw 28. The lower bearing housing 13, motor unit 3 and upper bearing` housing 14 are retained within the outer casing 1 by a clamping head 29. The clamping head 29 is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced external ribs 30 which are adapted to engage a series of internal ribs 31 formed on the inner surface of casing 1. As shown in the drawings, three ribs 30 are equally spaced on the clamping head, and similar ribs 31 are provided on the casing 1 so that when the clamping head is inserted within the outer casing, the ribs 30 pass between the ribs 31 on the casing. Then (by rotating the clamping head, the ribs 30 on the clamping head are moved to a position beneath the ribs 31 on the casing to connect the clamping head to the casing.

To force the bearing housings 13 and 14 and the motor unit 3 downwardly against the pump housing 4, a plu- -rality of bolts 32 are threaded within suitable openings formed in internal projections 33 on the clamping head. The lower ends of the bolts 32 bear against the peripheral rim on the cup-shape member 23 and by thre-ading the bolts downwardly, the cup member, bearing housings and motor unit 3 are forced downwardly against the upper end of the pump housing 4 to firmly position the members within the casing 1. Turning bolts 32 downwardly produces lan upwardly directed thrust which is resisted by the ribs 31.

Suitalble openings 34 are provided in the wall of the clamping head 29 which communicate with the annular clearance wit-hin the outer casing and permit the pumped liquid to ow to the interior of the clamping head.

The electrical lead wires connected to a sou-roe of power and the discharge pipe yfor the pumped liquid are carried by an adapter 35 which is secured to the upper end of the clamping head 29. The adapter 35 is provided with a central opening and a rulbber or electrically insulating, female plug 36 is disposed within the lower end of the central opening and -is connected to the electrical lead wires `37 which extend upwardly to -a source of electrical energy. r[The plug 36 is provided with a peripheral ange 38 and a series of screws 39 extend through the flange 38 and `are threaded into the end of the adapter 35 to firmly hold the plug 36 to the adapter.

Asbest shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of the adapter 35 ts within the upstanding flange 25 of the cup member 23 to provide a ilame guard. The outer cylindrical surface of the adapter 35 and the inner surface of the ilange 25 are machined with close tolerances to provide a very small radial clearance between these members, which is of substantial axial dimension. Any flame which may originate within the motor unit 3 will not be propagated through this small clearance to the pumped liquid, and this flame guard feature is of importance when pumping ilammable fluids, such as gasoline.

The upper end of the flange 25 on cup member 23 is beveled to facilitate the insertion of the adapter 35 therein.

The upper end of the central opening in the adapter 35 is threaded and receives an electrical conduit 40 through which the electrical lead wires 37 extend to the source of power at ground level.

The upper end of the adapter 35 has an increased diameter and is provided within a peripheral flange 41. A series of screws 42 extend through the ilange 41 and are threadedly engaged within openings in the upper end of the clamping head 29. The walls of the adapter 35 are provided with fa series of openings 43 which communicate with the interior of the clamping head 2,9. The pumped liquid passes from the interior of the clamping headf through the openings 43 and is discharged to the ground level through a 'discharge pipe 44 which is threadedly engaged within the upper end of the adapter 35.

Male plug 2G and the female plug 36 are engaged when the adapter is inserted within the clamping head to thereby connect the power source to the stator 8. To insure alignment of the plugs 20 and 36, an aligning pin 45 extends upwardly from the flange 41 and is `adapted to be received within a suitable opening in the upper end of the clamping head 29. The alignment of the pin 45 with the opening in the clamping head insures that the prongs of the male plug 20 are properly aligned with the holes in the female plug 36.

The discharge pipe 44 and the electrical conduit 40 are adapted to be permanently secured to the adapter 35. Therefore, in the event that service is required for either the pump or motor, the adapter with the electrical conduit and the discharge pipe, can be readily disengaged from the motor and pump units by merely removing the screws 42 and wtihdrawing the adapter from the outer casing. With this construction, a second motor-pump unit can then be engaged with the adapter without having to iisengage the electrical conduit 40 nor the discharge pipe 'llhe electrical circuit from the power source to the motor is conveniently established by merely inserting the female plug 36 carried by the ladapter onto the male plug 20 carried by the upper bearing housing 14. The anges 21 and 38 on the plugs 2t) and 36, respectively, serve to seal against the flow of liquids around the respective plugs. The flange 21 serves to prevent the oil or other liquid contained within the motor unit from passing upwardly, while the flange 38 prevents the pumped liquid from passing downwardly along the plug to the prongs.

In addition to the seals previously described, the male plug 20 is provided with an outwardly extending cylindrical section 46 which is received within a complementary recess in the female plug 36. This contact between cylindrical surface 46 and the recess in plug 36 provides an additional seal to prevent the pumped liquid from contacting the prongs or electrical contacts on the plugs.

As the motor unit and bearing housings are preassembled `as an integral structure, there is no buildup of tolerances in assembling the unit -as in the case where the bearing housings `and motor unit are individually inserted within the casing and secured thereto.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded `as the invention.

I claim:

l. In a submersible motor-pump unit, a pump housing, an outer casing secured to an end of the pump housing to provide an integral structure and extending a substantial distance yaxially from said housing, said pump housing having a portion extending radially inward of said casing to form an abutment, a separate motor package freely disposed within the casing `andinclnding a motor 'and pumping means, said pumping means being operably connected to the motor and disposed within said pump housing, one end of said motor package bearing against said abutment, and clamping means operably associated with said casing and engage-able with the opposite end `of the motor package to `force the motor package inwardly within the casing against the abutment on said pump housing to firmly secure said motor package within the casing.

2. In a submersible motor-pump unit, a pump housing, an outer casing secured to the upper end of said pump housing and extending axially upwardly from said housing, ya drive unit freely disposed within the outer casing and including a lower bearing assembly, a motor, -an upper bearing assembly and a pump operably connected to the motor, said lower bearing assembly resting against the upper end of the pump housing and said pump being located within the pump housing, a clamping head disposed within the upper end of said oute-r casing, thrust resisting means disposed on the inner surface of said outer casing Iand located upwardly of at least a portion of said clamping head and engaging said portion, and pressure means connected to the clamping head and engageable with the upper bearing assembly for forcing said drive unit downwardly within the outer casing against said pump housing with the downward force of said pressure means being resisted by said thrust resisting means.

3. The structure of claim 2, in which the pressure means comprises a plurality of bolts threadedly engaged within openings in said clamping head with the lower ends of the bolts engaging the upper bearing assembly, whereby threading down of said bolts forces said drive unit downwardly within the outer casing against the pump housing.

4. In a submersible motor-pump unit, a pump housing, an outer casing disposed around the upper end portion of said pump housing and welded thereto to provide an integral structure, said outer casing extending a substantial distance upwardly from said housing, a motor unit freely disposed within the outer casing and including a lower bearing assembly, a motor and -an upper bearing assembly, said lower bearing assembly resting against the upper end of the pump housing, a clamping head disposed within the upper end of sai-d outer casing, a series of ribs disposed in `circularly spaced relation on the inner surface of said outer casing adjacent the upper end thereof, a second series of ribs disposed in circularly spaced relation on the outer surface of the clamping head and disposed beneath said rst series of ribs, said second series of ribs being iengageable with said first series of ribs to provide a bayonet-type of connection and prevent upward displacement of said clamping head within said outer casing, and pressure -means connected to the clamping head and engageable with the upper bearing assembly for forcing said motor unit downwardly within the outer casing adjacent said pump housing with the downward force of said pressure means being resisted by said `first series of ribs.

5. In a submersible motor-pump unit, a pump housing enclosing a pump, an outer casing secured to an end portion of said pump housing and extending outwardly therefrom, a pre-assembled drive unit freely disposed within the casing 'and including a motor, bearing assemblies disposed at each end of the motor and a pump located within the pump housing and operably connected to the motor, support means connected to the pump housing for supporting one of said bearing assemblies, spacing means for spacing the motor unit from the casing to provide a clearance therebetween for the -ow of the pumped liquid, a

clamping member disposed within the casing outwardly of the drive unit, thrust resisting means connected to the casing and disposed outwardly of at least a portion of said clamping member and engaging said portion, and pressure means connected to the clamping member and engageable with a second of said bearing assemblies for forcing said drive unit inwardly against said pump housing with the force of said pressure means being resisted by said thrust resisting means.

6. In a submersible motor-pump unit, a pump housing, an outer casing disposed around the upper end portion of said pump Ihousing and welded thereto to provide an integral structure, said outer casing extending a substantial distance upwardly from said housing, a motor unit freely disposed within the casing, said motor unit including a motor contained within a cylindrical shell and an upper bearing housing yand a lower bearing housing located at opposite ends of said motor, the ends of said shell being secured to the respective bearing housings to provide an integral unit and the lower end of said lower bearing housing supported by said pump housing, spacing means for spacing the upper bearing housing from the casing to provide an annular clearance between said motor unit and said casing for the flow of the pumped liquid, a clamping head disposed within the upper end of said outer casing, a series of ribs disposed in circularly spaced relation on the inner surface of said outer casing adjacent theupper en-d thereof, a second series of ribs disposed in circularly spaced relation on the outer surface of the clamping head and disposed beneath said first series of ribs, said second series of ribs being engageable with said first series of ribs to provide a -bayonet-type Vof connection and prevent upward displacement of said clamping head within said outer casing, and pressure means connected to the clamping hea-d and engageable with the upper bearing housing for forcing said motor unit downwardly within the casing against said pump housing with the downward force of said pressure means being resisted -by said first series of ribs.

7. In a submersible motor pump unit, a pump housing, 1an outer casing secu-red to an end of the pump housing and extending a substantial distance axially from said housing, a separate motor package including a motor and pumping -means operably connected to said motor and freely disposed within the casing with one end of the motor package bearing against said end of the pump housing, abutment means disposed on the inner surface of the outer casing and located outwardly of said motor package, a clamping head disposed within the outer end of the casing and having a portion of said clamping head located inwardly of said abutment means and engaged with said abutment means, and pressure means connected to the clamping head and engageable with said motor package for forcing the motor package inwardly within the casing against the pump housing with the inward force of said pressure means creating an outward thrust resisted by said abutment means.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,786,765 Marbury Dec. 30, 1930 1,918,381 Clarkson July 18, 1933 2,404,635 HOover .Tuly 23, 1946 2,689,529 Wightman Sept. 21, 1954 

